Cigarette package



Aug. 22, 1939. s, O E 2,170,322

CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed Jan. 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 272/67: for; Jbizlz a 67"0772'8Z2 zz,

Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cigarette-packages, and refers specifically to a cigarette package wherein the cigarettes. are maintained side by side in a single row characterized inthat all openings in the package are sealed and the cigarettesare retained in relatively fixed position within the package and will not move or shift about irrespective of the number of cigarettes inthe package.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings .andfollowing detailed description.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, of my improved cigarette package.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isv an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational View, parts being broken away, of my package.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3. V

Fig. 5 is-an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view, parts being broken away, of my package.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the top frame illustrating the tab and barb perforation.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, parts being broken away, of a modification of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view, parts being broken away, of another modification of my invention.

Fig. 10 is a profile sectional viewof the package illustrated in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line I lll of Fig. 9.

Referring in detail to the'drawings, l indicates a cigarette package of the type wherein cigarettes 2 are disposed side by side in a single row. The package I is adapted to accommodate any desired number of cigarettes but is preferably constructed to contain twenty cigarettes, the number commonly marketed in packages. By disposing the cigarettes in a single row, the package I may be made very thin, permitting its accommodation in the breast, side or hip pocket without forming an unsightly bulge; or the same may slip easily into a womans' hand bag.

The package I comprises essentially a frame or skeleton structure 3 and an outer wrapper 4. The frame 3 is preferably constructed of cardboard or other similar relatively heavy material of sufficient caliber to furnish rigidity to the package. I have found that 15 point fibrous board serves admirably for the frame, but'I do not wish to be limited to this thickness since the board may be selected, as to thickness, in conformity with the rigidity or ruggedness desired. The wrapper 4', on the other hand, serves a different function, namely, that of an envelope or covering andaccordingly may comprise a relative light paper having a desired finish or coating. I have found that an eighty pound litho paper serves ideally but, of course, my invention contemplates a paper of any weight or finish desired.

The frame 3 is constructed in the form of a relatively narrow unitary strip of material, of an effective width substantially equal to the diameter of the usual cigarette. The strip is folded transversely at spaced intervals along its length to provide a top 5, ends 6 and I and a bottom 8, the two ends of the strip terminating at a corner of the package as indicated ,at 9 in Fig. 1. In this form of my invention, the top 5 is of greater width than the members 6, 1 and 8, said top being provided with two integral side flanges l0 and II, as shown best in Fig. 6, which traverse substantially the entire length of the top. The central portion of the top is provided with a seriesof L-shaped score lines- I2 which define a plurality of tabs l3. The width of the tabs, similar to the width of the ends 6 and l and bottom 8, is substantially equal to the diameter of the conventional cigarette.

In assembling the package I, the flanges l0 and II .are folded along the staffs of the L-shaped score lines l2 so as to be disposed at right angles to the plane of the tabs l3. The remaining frame members are formed by folding the strip along the respective transverse lines to form the corners of the package. These transverse folded lines are so arranged that the length of the ends 6 .and l is substantially equal to the length of the cigarettes 2 so that the cigarettes can be snugly positioned side by side between the top and bottom. It is preferable that there be, when the package is completely assembled, a very slight pressure at the tops and bottoms of the cigarettes so that relative slipping or displacement of the cigarettes will be prevented when one or more cigarettes are removed from the package. The wrapper 4 is then positioned over the cigarettes thus embraced by the frame 3 and is properly folded and sealed to provide an envelope for the cigarettes and frame. The envelope may be sealed by gluing, pasting, cementing or the like, or the envelope may be heat sealed. The wrapper is preferably sealed at the ends of the package but may, if found desirable, be sealed elsewhere on the package.

As a feature of my invention, that portion ofthe envelope 4 which covers the top 5 may be scored as indicated at M in Fig. 5, the score lines [4 being disposed immediately above the L- shapedscore lines which define the tabs l3.

l3 are adapted to be individually removed from the top and-consequently the scoring of the'top'" will be hereinafter more fully described, the tabs.

and the scoring of the envelope along the lines l4 facilitates the removal of such tabs.

As an important feature of my invention, a liner of paper !5 is interposed between the top 5 of frame 3 and the envelope 4, said liner completely covering the top and extending downwardly along the sides of the package to the depth of the flanges H] and l I. The liner l5 also extends downwardly over the ends 6 and I to a depth equal to that of the said flanges; The liner l5 may comprise tissue paper orother easily tearable material so that it will not interfere with, or render difiicult the removal of the tabs. In applying the liner, the outer surface of the top frame member, the inner surface of the wrapper and both sides of the liner receive an application of Waterproof lacquer, which can be sealed by heat at a temperature slightly above 212 F., but not sufficiently high to injuriously affect the paper, cardboard or cigarettes. Thus at all points the top member of the package I is firmly sealed to the wrapper. In particular, the top member, tissue and wrapper are sealed into a substantially integral piece; the tissue assuring the continuity of the waterproof membrane at the points where cuts and perforations in the frame and perforation in the wrapper coincide to define the tabs l3.

If desired a liner (not shown) similar to the liner l5 may be interposed at all points around the frame 3 between the frame and wrapper or the liner may be positioned at the top 5 and bottom 8 between the said frame members and the wrapper.

As another imortant feature of my invention a barb I6 is formed upon each of the tabs l3 by striking up a portion of the material of the tabpreferably in the form of a triangle hinged at its base. The points of the barbs 88, that is, the apices of the triangles so formed, are adapted to extend downwardly from the lower surface of the tabs into the tobacco of the cigarettes, a barb being provided for each cigarette. As will be hereinafter described, the package I is adapted, and constructed to be opened at one end. In forming the barbs, the hinged portion or base of the triangle of each barb is disposed toward the opened end of the package. By this arrangement, the lifting of the tabs will not cause an excessive gouging of the tobacco of the cigarettes, and yet before the tabs are lifted said cigarettes will be maintained in their original position within the package even though one or more cigarettes may be removed from the package.

In like manner, barbs ll are provided upon the bottom 8 of the frame, the points of the barbs extending upwardly into the tobacco of the cigarettes. The barbs II are appropriately spaced so that one barb will be provided for each cigarette.

To gain access to the contents of the package I, the fingernail may be used to sever the wrap per and liner at the corner 9. It will be noted that the end terminates short of the top 5 at this corner leaving a slot l8 between the frame members covered only by the wrapper and liner. At this point, if desired, the wrapper may be perforated and thereby the wrapper and liner may be easily severed. It will also be noted that the top 5, that is, the endmost tab l3, overhangs the endmost cigarette 2 whereby purchase may be obtained at the edge of the tab 13. The endmost tab may then be raised, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the tab being severed along opposite score lines I2 and the wrapper being torn along corresponding perforations l4. Simultaneously the liner, being of easily tearable stock, is also severed. It can readily be seen that when tab I3 is thus raised, it hinges along the cross-portion of the L-shaped score lines defining the adjacent tab [3. By exerting a slight lateral pull upon the hinged tab, the same may be completely severed from the next adjacent tab exposing the first or endmost cigarette 2. The package may then be tapped or jarred in well known fashion to cause the endmost cigarette, now unconfined at its top, to slip outwardly whereby it may be readily grasped.

In a package wherein the cigarettes are maintained in a single row, when some of the cigarettes are removed, there is a tendency for the remaining cigarettes to assume diagonal directions Within the package, or if sufflcient cigarettes are removed, to fall completely to the bottom in a lying position. If the inner height of the package could be made to accurately fit the length of a cigarette this tendency, to a degree, would be overcome. However, this is substantially impossibe since the degree of tolerance in the manufacture of such packages is too large. Hence, by the provision of the inwardly extending barbs l6 and I! the cigarettes are securely anchored in vertical position irrespec tive of the number removed; 7 7

Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, a modification of my invention is illustrated. In this form of my invention a frame I!) and wrapper 20 are used. The frame I9 is constructed of a material similar to the frame 3 and the wrapper 20 may comprise the same material as that comprising wrapper 4, Frame l9 comprises a strip of cardboard or the like which is longitudinally folded to divide the strip into three sections, namely, side flanges 2| and 22 and a central section 23. The strip is also transverselyfolded to provide the corners of the package 24, the flanges 2| and 22 being notched to permit transverse folding of the strip To assemble the package 24 the strip or frame I9 is folded along the longitudinal lines to dispose the side flanges 2! and 22 at right angles to the central section 23. Cigarettes 25 may be positioned in a row with their bottom ends resting upon the central section 23 of the bottom frame member, the lower sides of the cigarettes being embraced by the side flanges 2| and 22 of the bottom frame member. The strip comprising the frame !9 may then be folded transversely to provide the corners of the package 24, the side flanges overlapping each other at the corners in progressive fashion around the periphery of the frame as indicated at 26 in Fig. '7. The top member 21 is perforated and punched in a manner similar to the top member 5 of the frame 3 whereby a plurality of tabs 28 are provided, each tab having a downwardly extending barb punched from the material of the tab, said barbs extending into the tobacco of the cigarette. From the central section 23 of the bottom member, similar barbs (not shown) are punched which extend upwardly into the tobacco of the cigarettes. The function of the barbs in conjunction with the package 24 is similar to that hereinbefore described with respect to barbs l6 and I1.

In this form of my invention, a liner 29 is interposed between the wrapper 20 and the top frame member as clearly shown in Fig, 7. The application of the liner 29 involves the coating of the inner portion of the wrapper and the exterior portion of the top frame member and both sides of the liner with a waterproof lacquer so that the wrapper, liner and top frame member are held together in an integral fashion. The liner 29, of course, extends downwardly over the side of the package to a depth equal to the depth of the side flanges. Said liner also extends over the ends to a depth equal to the depth of the side flanges whereby all portions of the top of the package are sealed. If desired, a liner (not shown) similar to liner 29, may be interposed between all of the frame members and the wrapper 20, or a liner may be used only at the top and at the bottom of the package. It can readily be seen that all of the advantages inherent in the package, illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, also exist in the package 24 and the function of the corresponding elements in the packages I and 24 are substantially the same.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11, another modification of my invention is illustrated. In this form of my invention a cardboard blank is appropriately out and folded to form a box-like package 36. The box-like member 30 is covered by a wrapper 3|, the material comprising the box-like package being similar to the material comprising frames hereinbefore described, and the wrapper M is similar to wrappers 4 and 20. In this form of my invention the top 32 is appropriately perforated and punched to provide tab-s 33 and barbs 33' which extend downwardly into the tobacco of the cigarettes 34, Likewise, the bottom of the boxlike member 39 may be appropriately punched to provide barbs 33 which are adapted to extend upwardly into the tobacco of the cigarette.

A liner 35 is positioned over the top 32 and is sealed between the wrapper 3| and the top 32 by the use of a waterproof lacquer as has been hereinbefore described, the liner 35 extending downwardly along the sides and ends of the package a sufficient distance to seal all openings in the box-like member 38. If desired, a similar liner, (not shown) may also be positioned around the entire periphery of the box-like member 3!), or the liner may be confined only at the top and at the bottom.

It can readily be seen that all of the advantages inherent in the packages i and 24 are also existent in the package illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the package being sealed by the liner 35 and the cigarettes being maintained in fixed, vertical position by the barbs 33 and 33". In both package 24 and the package illustrated in Fig. 9, the cigarettes may be removed similar to the manner described in conjunction with package I, that is, the tabs provided in the top frame member may be raised and removed in seriatim to expose the cigarettes within the package.

I claim as my invention:

1. A package for cigarettes comprising an inner member constructed of relatively rigid material defining a box-like body, said body being adapted to carry a. plurality of cigarettes, an outer member comprising a wrapper of relatively flexible sheet material enveloping said body, the portion of said body adjacent one end of said cigarettes being scored to define a plurality of. separable tabs, barbs cut from, and bent inwardly from said tabs into the tobacco of said cigarettes to maintain said cigarettes in position within said body, and waterproof means adhesively united between said wrapper and said tabs to seal said tabs.

2. A package for cigarettes comprising an inner member constructed of relatively rigid material defining a box-like body, said body being adapted to carry a plurality of cigarettes, an outer member comprising a wrapper of relatively flexible sheet material enveloping said body, the portion of said body adjacent one end of said cigarettes being scored to define a plurality of separable tabs, triangular barbs cut from, and bent inwardly fromv said tabs into the tobacco of said cigarettes to maintain said cigarettes in position within, said body, said barbs being formed integral with said tabs, and waterproof means adhesively united between said wrapper and said tabs to seal said tabs.

3. A package for cigarettes comprising an inner member constructed of relatively rigid material defining a box-like body, said body being adapted to carry a plurality of cigarettes, an outer member comprising a wrapper of. relatively flexible sheet material enveloping said body, theportion of said body adjacent one end of said cigarettes being scored to define a plurality of separable tabs, barbs cut from, and bent inwardly from said tabs leaving openings in said tabs, said barbs extending into the tobacco of said cigarettes to maintain said cigarettes in position within said body, and waterproof means adherently united between said wrapper and said tabs to cover said openings and seal said tabs.

4. A package for cigarettes comprising an. inner member constructed of relatively rigid material defining a box-like body, said body being adapted to carry a plurality of cigarettes, an-

outer member comprising a wrapper of relatively flexible sheet material enveloping said body, the portion of said body adjacent one end of said cigarettes being scored to define a plurality of separable tabs, barbs cut from, and bent inwardly from said tabs leaving openings in said tabs, said barbs extending into the tobacco of said cigarettes to maintain said cigarettes in position within said body, waterproof means adhesively united to said wrapper and said tabs to cover said openings, and seal said tabs, and barbs cut from, and bent inwardly from the opposite side of said body into the tobacco at the opposite ends of said cigarettes.

5. A package for cigarettes which comprises a frame constructed of relatively rigid material embracing a plurality of cigarettes, a wrapper of relatively flexible sheet material enveloping said frame and cigarettes, the portion of the frame adjacent one end of said cigarettes being scored to define a plurality of separable tabs, barbs cut from, and bent inwardly from said tabs leaving openings in said tabs, said barbs extending into the tobacco of said cigarettes to maintain said cigarettes in position within said frame, and waterproof means adhesively united between said wrapper and said tabs to seal said tabs.

6. A cigarette package having side walls, top and bottom adapted to contain a plurality of cigarettes disposed parallel to said side walls, barbs cut from, and bent inwardly from said top leaving openings in said top, said barbs extending into contact with said cigarettes to maintain said cigarettes in vertical position, a wrapper for said package, and a liner secured by a waterproof adhesive between said wrapper and the top of the package to seal said top and close said openings.

JOHN S. CROMELIN. 

